London 2012: Olympic Park in pictures

New pictures of the London 2012 Olympic Park at Stratford, London, show the latest stages in development at the site. Here the warm up track is shown behind the Olympic Stadium, with the ArcelorMittal Orbit tower to the left. (Pictures: Jason Hawkes - @jasonhawkesphot)

The newly-unveiled Orbit, designed by Anish Kapoor and structural designer Cecil Balmond, is the tallest sculpture in the UK. It's twice the height of Nelson's Column and when it opens will cost £15 to go up in the lift, and down the swirling staircase.

The photos show how the green planted areas of the park are starting to bed in, during their second Spring and the last few months and weeks before the Games, which open on Friday 27 July.

Alongside the grass and trees are the bright blues and pink of the Riverbank Arena, where Olympic hockey will be played.

The hockey venue is one of the park's temporary venues, due to be dismantled and sold on after the Olympic and Paralympic Games. As is the Water Polo Arena. It is topped with a silver inflatable roof and sits on a spot that will eventually be redeveloped for housing.

The water polo venue is next to the Aquatics Centre, designed by architect Zaha Hadid. This is a permanent venue. After the Games, the central whale belly-like part of the building will remain but the stingray-shaped extra seating capacity will be removed and glass side walls put in.

Here's a view of the Aquatics Centre in the foreground, clockwise through the Water Polo Arena, to the flat roofs of the handball arena - the Copper Box - and the giant broadcast and media centres in the background. On the right at the back are the curved roof of the Velodrome, and the white ridged roof of the Basketball Arena. Through the athletes' village, Westfield shops, to small white security tents in the foreground.

Less than nine weeks until the opening ceremony and the park takes shape. All eyes will be on the track at the Velodrome when the Games begin. Here, the blue sky and white clouds are reflected in the strips across the top of the curving roof.

The finishing touches to the stadium are taking place now that the final test events at the park are over. Where in the stadium will the cauldron be placed and lit from the torch now travelling the UK? All will become clear when Danny Boyle's opening ceremony marks the start of the Games on the night of 27 July.

BBC links

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